When children forge themselves in soldier's uniform

A square blanket folding session, a time listening to soldier stories, or a lunch with soldiers… can all sow profound lessons about discipline, responsibility and love for the Fatherland in the children’s souls. For children in Lam Ha district, the military experience trip at the district Military Command (CHQS) has opened a new door, where each child is placed in a serious training environment, living in an organized manner and gradually absorbing beautiful life values.

A day in the military environment helps children better understand the life, responsibilities and ideals of a soldier.

The program is built into a series of experiential activities with many meaningful contents from visiting the District Martyrs Memorial, visiting the District Military Command, learning how to fold blankets properly, growing vegetables with the soldiers and having a collective meal with officers and soldiers. Each activity, no matter how simple, carries within it a profoundeducational spirit, connecting tradition with the present and creating meaningful lessons.

At the Martyrs' Memorial, in the silent smoke of incense, the children bowed their heads to remember the heroes who sacrificed for the Fatherland. At that moment, when they were silent in the sacred space, their first feelings of gratitude and patriotism were gradually awakened. Next was the screening of a traditional film about the formation and development of the Vietnam People's Army. Images of soldiers marching through the forest, lying in hammocks in the Truong Son forest or sharing pieces of dry bread appeared vividly.

Not stopping there, the stories told by the soldiers themselves, from the time they were new recruits to when they were on duty at the border, aroused curiosity, respect and emotion in the students. “This is the first time I have participated in such an interesting activity. I learned how to live in a disciplined manner, work in a team and feel much more mature. I am very happy and hope that many other friends will have the same opportunity as me,” said Pham Minh Tam, Team Leader of Tan Van Secondary School.

Besides the quiet moments, skill training activities also make the atmosphere more exciting. When starting to fold blankets and mosquito nets according to military regulations, the children begin to realize that doing even a small task correctly requires concentration, meticulousness and patience. The square folds of the blanket are the result of effort, proving that discipline is not something strange but the foundation of all organized behavior.

The Ho Chi Minh House in the District Military Command is also an emotional stop. Here, children can hear stories about Uncle Ho's simple, idealistic life, from the small table where he worked to stories about his love for soldiers and children. Things that seem far away suddenly become close, penetrating the children's souls through the simple voice and quiet space.

Mr. Le Van Linh - Head of the Team of Tan Van 3 Primary School said: "Students today need to be trained through practical experiences. When placed in a military environment, where discipline, teamwork and responsibility are the top priorities, they will learn how to control themselves, and at the same time form good qualities for comprehensive development."

Not only stopping at “watching” and “listening”, the children also participated in the daily work of soldiers such as: hoeing, weeding, and planting vegetables. In the lush green vegetable garden, the image of children bending down to tend the beds, their hands covered in dirt, their faces shining with delighted smiles became beautiful moments of the experience day. The first drops of sweat when working together are valuable lessons about sharing, community spirit, and respect for labor.

Lunch with officers and soldiers is also a memorable experience. The simple, neat but cozy meals seem to narrow the gap between the children and the soldiers. The children not only eat but also help clean up, wash dishes, and wipe tables. These are small things, but they help the children understand more about the value of collective living, self-discipline, and thrift.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Hong Hanh - Secretary of Lam Ha District Youth Union: “We consider this a form of education that is both effective and suitable for the psychology of the age group. Each content in the program, from lining up seriously, being on time, folding blankets neatly, to sitting and listening to stories about Uncle Ho and soldiers, is a harmonious combination of knowledge, ethics and skills education. And, the greatest value of this journey is not the “new” experiences, but the way those experiences awaken the positive spirit, self-esteem and pride in each student. From there, the students continue on their journey of maturity with a more steadfast mindset, living more beautifully, living more responsibly towards the community and the Fatherland”.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/xa-hoi/202506/khi-thieu-nhi-ren-minh-trong-mau-ao-linh-171011e/